Schoolies

We are in the midst of schoolies and we have watched the hedonistic behaviour of young people and the unfortunate consequences. I am led to ask the question, when did this become acceptable, to send away barely legal young people on mass without parental supervision. In fact, often funded and approved by parents. When did we decide that young people who can't keep their rooms clean, do the washing up or mow the lawn, relay on mum to do the shopping, cook their meals and drive them to sport and school are ok to be left alone in a place we recognise and accept is seedy by night, even at its best? 

The question is not so much when, but who said it was ok? Who was the king that decreed this was now 'a right of passage' (albeit for simply doing something we all have had to do - finish school)? The answer - corporate consumerism. Schoolies is a construct of the tourism industry, to fill beds, hotels, restaurants, airlines etc. It has even spurned a new group of surrogate parents, 'the Red Frogs' , and a new family circle, schoolies hub. The result is, in a consumer driven society, parents are conditioned to say yes when everythng within them is screaming, no, this is not right. 

At Ballina on Friday, in the local newsagency, I met 2 fathers who have been asking the same questions as me and are committed to saying no. It lifted my spirits. But parents who want to say no receive no help from the institutions within society who should be leading the way - the church, the governments, local civic leaders - they  simpy allow it because they too have succumbed to corporate conumerism.

Like the frog in the slowly boiling water we have become not a part of the Kingdom of heaven, but a part of the kingdom of hell - a place where what I want rules supreme.

A Beautiful One

Last weekend a group of boys,  a fellow teacher and myself went away on a silent walking weekend.  The first day's walk was 20 kilometres in the rain.  It was beautiful and silent.  There was no talking for about 6 hours.  The boys, aged 13 – 17, coped wonderfully with the challenge and walked resolutely in the silence and the wet.

The next morning we walked down to a cave area below Binna Burra.  Still in silence.  On the way, a small wallaby sat by the track grazing as we went by, undisturbed.  Behind us was a family with small children.  We ushered the boy whose name was Davey, a bit over 3 years, to a spot to get a good look at the wallaby.  (Unfortunately his photo was a little fuzzy so not here.) His comment was astonishing.

He simply said, ' A beautiful one.'

Astonishing because it was a statement of pure delight, without a judgement, without naming, without assessment.  He saw what was there and nothing more. 'A beautiful one'. His words echo's God in Genesis when God looked at all that had been created and said, 'It is good'.

This little boy saw through the eye's of God and challenges us to do the same. To see all around us, all that has been created, and to recognise, 'A beautiful one'.  To see things just as they are.

Try it at home, at work and at play.  It will change you.

The Widow's Mite - Have We Got It Right?

Help!

In preparation for Sunday's Lectionary readings, I would value your comments on on the following reading and what you think might be Jesus's attitude to what he sees.  The story is often called the Widow's Mite and used to suggest that no matter how poor you are you should give what you can.  Is that what this is about?  Read the story below and go to http://wallwisher.com/wall/udjxwt8ok2  and post your comments (160 letters only)

Mark 12:38-44

"As he taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

Love to know what you think!